Ttjempfel



F. E. BIERTUEMPFEL.

GAME.

APPLICATION FILED APR-1,1919- 1,'319,372. Patented Oct. 21,1919.

2 SHEETS-SHEET l.

lwvamtoz F. E. BIERTUEMPFEL.

GAME.

APPLICATION FILED APR. I. l9l9. 1,319,372. Patented Oct. 21,1919.

I 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

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2;? f r n I ll r 1 7 7 I6 J6 53 FRED EDWARD BIERTUEMPIEEL, or NEWARK, NEW JERSEY.

GAME.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented oct. 21, 1919.

Application filed April 1, 1919. Serial No. 286,743.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FRED EDWARD BIER- TUEMPFEL, a citizen of the United States, re

siding at Newark, in the county of Essex and Stateof New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Games, of which the'following is a specification. v

-This invention relates to games, and more particularly to a parlor game,.in which a game of basketball is simulated.

An object of the invention is to provide a game structure which may be placed upon a table or other analogous support and which includes a plurality of pivotally. mounted members adapted, upon downward snapping -or pivotal movement thereof, to propel a resilient balltoward either end of the game structure, for forcing it to fall through a loop or basket which operation may be the point"of the game. a

A further object of this invention, is to provide, in a game asspecified, aplurality of ball projecting members/pivoted, in sets at opposite sides of the supporting board or base of the game, which projecting members have their upper surfaces inclined toward each other to provide trough-like recesses to receive the ball to be projected, and also to incline the projecting members, which represent the usual toward their free ends, and to so shape them that when the ball is projected from one of said free ends, its course will be substantially directed to the basket. 4 V

' Further, the invention comprehends the provision of a game structure, which when played will simulate the ordinary basketball game and-one in which, speed, practice and skill are factors as well. as a game which will be interesting, and exciting.

Other objects of the invention willappear from the following detailed description,

taken in connection. with the accompanying drawings, forming a tion, and in which drawings:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the improved game.

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section through the game.

- Fig. 3 is a side elevation of one of" the. projecting members showing the supporting base in section. V

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary perspective view of a pair of the projecting members, illustrating the manner of forming them to properlyretain and project the ball.

'ture has players of the basketball game part of thisspecificaof the base land form Fig. 5 is a-detail perspective view-illustratin'g the manner of connecting the parts of the game structure, and

F ig: 6 is a detail perspective View of the basket through which the ball is to be 'drggped:

ferring more particularly to the draw ings, wherein like characters indicate like and corresponding parts throughout the severalviews, 1 indicates the supportingbase of the game structure which is rectangular 'in shape and may be of any desired size.

The supporting base 1 of the game struca pair of transversely extending blocks 2, positioned upon its upper surface, one near each end thereof, and the upstanding end boards 3 of the game housing are hingedly [connected to these blocks 2 by means of hingesA, so as to allow' the end pieces to fold'downwardly'upon the projecting members which are generically indicated by. the numeral 5 when the game is not in use. i

' The basket or loop, through which the ball 6 is projected by the projecting members 5 are preferably formed of wire, bent to form the circular loops 7,. the ends of which wires are twisted together as shown at 8 and bent to provide laterally extending portions 9." Theselate-rally extending portions 9 are inserted through the loops or convolutions 10 of the supporting structures 11, of the basket. The supporting structures 11 are made of wire or analogous material, and they include a plurality of arms which radiate from the convolutions 10. The ends of the arms 12 of the supports 11 are angled as shown at 14 for removable insertion through the staples 14 carried by the end pieces 3, thus permitting the detachment or disconnection of thebasket, from the end pieces, when it is desired to fold the game structure.

Rods 15 are connected to the transverse blocks 2 near their ends and these rods 15 members of each set are shaped alike, and inclined transversely, toward the edge which faces the basket 7 through which they should project the ball 6. The upper or active spaces of these projecting members 5 also incline toward their free ends, as clearly shown in Fig. 4 of the drawings, and the sets thereof are disposed in opposed relation, forming hollows, into which the ball 6 will roll, and owing to the longitudinal inclining of the active surfaces of the projecting members 5, the ball will roll longitudinally over one or the other of the adjacent opposed proj ecting members to the lowermost end thereof, and if, when in such position, the operator will strike the striking handle or portion 17 of the said projecting element, the

ball 6 will be projected substantially in a direct path to the proper basket for making a count in the game. The striking portions 17 of the projecting elements 5 are fiat and formed at one end of the striking elements,

the said striking portions of one set projecting in one direction while those of the opposite set of the projecting members or elements extend in the opposite direction, as clearly shown in Fig. 1 of the drawings, thus in playing the game one player would be positioned upon one side of the base 1 and the other player upon the opposite side.

Spiral springs18 are carried by the base 1 and engage the under surface of the striking portions 17 of the projecting elements 5 for forcingthese striking ends upwardly or returning them to their normal positions after they have been moved downwardly, during the playing of the game. Suitable cushions 19 are carried b-y-the base 1 and are adapted to be engaged by the under surface of the free ends of the stri'king'elements when these ends are forced dbwnwardly by the action of the springs 18. The end boards 3 of the supporting struc ture of the game have their upper corners beveled as shown at 20 and pins 21 are carried by these beveled corners. The pins 21 are adapted for extension through openings 22 in the ends of the longitudinally extending brace bars 23.

r A netting 25- is placed over the base 1 and end pieces 3 forming an inclosure to prevent the balls 6 from being projected too great a distance and confining the movement of the balls within the limits of the game structure. This netting 25 is supported, at its ends, by substantially U-shaped supports 26, the ends of which fit in sockets or openings formed in the end blocks 2 as clearly shown in Fig. 1.' The legs of these braces 26- are connected near their lower ends by longitudinally extending bars 27 while the netting is placed at the top by the end bracing bars 23.

In playing the game, the ball is first placed in the hollow formed by intermediate pivoted projecting members which correspond to the centers in a basket ball game, and the players of, the game then press downwardly on a pressing or handle portion 17 of these center projecting. members, the player passing firststarts the ball 6 in motion, and if the ball does not pass through the basket corresponding to the projecting member from which it is projected, it will be returned, by the net structure 26 in the hollow between a pair of projecting mem bers, and one or the other of these projecting members are then depressed depending upon the player who is quickest in action and the ball is thus continued in motion. The rules and counts of the game are the same as those in an ordinary basketball ame.

1 Changes in details may be made'without departing from the spirit of this invention, but;

I claim:

1. In a game, the combination of a supporting base, a plurality of projecting elements pivotally supported by said baseadjacent its side edges, and arranged in sets, the projectingelements of said sets being arranged alternately, the upper surfaces of the projecting elements being inclined transversely and having their lowermost portions facing a companion projecting element of the other set.

2. In a game, the combination, with a resilient ball, of a supporting base, a plurality of projecting elements arranged in sets, the projecting elements of one set being pivoted at one edge of said supporting base, and the edge opposite that adjacent which the projecting elements of the other sets are pivoted.

3. In a game, the combination, with a resilient ball, of a plurality of pivotally supported projecting elements arranged in sets, the projecting elements of-one set adapted to project the ball in a direction opposite t; its projection by the other set, the pro- 110 jecting elements of said sets being arranged alternately.

4. In a game, the combination, of a supporting base, a resilient ball, a plurality of projecting elements pivotally supported by 115 said base adjacent its side edges and arranged in sets, the projecting elements in one set being positioned adjacent the edge opposite to the edge adjacent which the projecting elements "of the other set are pivoted, 120 the projecting elements of said sets being arranged alternately.

5. In a game, the combination, of a supporting base, a resilient ball, a plurality of projecting elements pivotally supported by 125 said base adjacent its side edges and ar-- ranged in sets, the projecting elements in one set being positioned adjacent the edge the projecting elements of-said sets being ar-- ranged alternately, the upper surfaces of said projecting elements being inclined transversely, having their lowermost portions facing a companion projecting element of the other set. a i

6. In a game, the combination, of a supporting base, a resilient ball, a plurality of projecting elements pivotally supported by said base adjacent its side edges and arranged insets, the projecting elements in one set being positioned adjacent the edge opposite to the edge adjacent which the proj ecting elements of the other set are pivoted, the projecting elements of said sets being arranged alternately, the upper surfaces of said projecting elements being inclined. transversely, having their lowermost portions facing a companion projecting element of the other set, said projecting elements also being inclined toward their free ends.

7. In a game, the combination of a supporting base, a plurality of projecting elements pivotallysupported by said base adjacent its side edges and arranged in sets,

the projecting elements-of said sets being arranged alternately, the upper surfaces of the projecting elements being inclined transversely and having their lowermost portions facing a companion projecting element of the other set, baskets arranged, in spaced relation above the plane of said projecting element, and means carried by said supporting base for limiting the amplitude of movement of the means projected by said pro jecting element.

8. In a game, the combination of' a sup porting base, a plurality of projecting elements pivotally supported by said base and arranged in sets, the projecting elements of said sets being arranged alternately, the upper surfaces of said projecting elements being inclined transversely and having their lowermost portions facing a companion projecting element of the other set, and means for returning the projecting elements to their normal positions after operation.

9. In a game, the combination, of a resilient ball, a plurality'of pivotally sup-- ported projecting elements arranged in sets, the projecting elements of one set being adapted to project the ball in a direction opposite to its projection by the other set, baskets arranged in spaced relation and adapted to receive the ball upon projection by said projecting elements, said projecting elements of said set being arranged alternately.

10. In silient ball, a plurality .of pivotallysupported projecting elements arranged in sets, the projecting elements of one set being adapted to project the ball in a direction opposite to-its projection by the other set, baskets arranged in spaced relation and a game, the combination, of a -re-' silient ball, a plurality of pivotally supported projecting elements-arranged in sets, the projecting elements of one set being adapted to project the ball in a direction opposite to its'projection by the other set, bas

kets arranged in spaced relation and adapted to receive the ball upon projection by'said projecting elements, the projecting elements of said set being arranged alternately, means for returning the projecting elements to their normal positions after operation, and cushioning means for cushioning the return movement of said projecting elements.

12. In a game, the combination, of a supporting base, a resilient ball, a plurality of projecting elements pivotally carried by said base and arranged in sets, the projecting elements of one set adapted to project-the ball in a direction opposite tolits projection by the other set, baskets arranged in spaced relation above the planeof said projecting elements, the active surfaces of said projecting elements being inclined, to present'hollows adapted to receive said ball prior to itspro-- "in a direction opposite uto its projection .by

theother se-t, *basketsarranged in spaced relation above the plane of said projecting elements, the active surfaces of said projecting elements being inclined laterally to present hollows adapted to receive said ball prior to its projectionby the projecting element, said projecting elements having their upper surfaces inclined longitudinally to provide receiving portions adapted to receive the ball and from which the ball will be projected :lfior dropping through the corresponding baset. 14, In a game, the-combination, of a s1ipporting base, a resilient ball, a plurality of .iprojecting elements pivotally carried by said base and arranged-in sets, the projecting elements of one set adapted to project the ball'in a direction opposite toits projection by the other set, baskets arranged in spaced relation above the plane of said projecting elements, the active surfaces of said proj ecting elements being inclined laterally, to present hollows adapted to receive said ball prior to its projecting'by the projecting :element, said projecting elements having their upper surfaces inclined longitudinally 'to provide receiving portions adapted to receive the ball and from which the ball will be projected for dropping through the corresponding basket, and a net work inclosing the active portions of said projecting elements and said baskets.

15. In a game, the combination, of a supporting base, a resilient ball, a plurality of projecting elements pivotally carried by said base and arranged in sets, the projecting elements of one set adapted to project the ball in a direction opposite to its projection by the other set, baskets arranged in spaced re lation above the plane of said projecting elements, the active surfaces of said projecting elements being inclined laterally, to present hollows adapted to receive said ball prior to its projecting by the projecting element, said rojecting elements havlng their upper suraces inclined longitudinally to provide receiving portions adapted to receive the ball and from which the ball will be elements, the active surfaces of said project-' ing elements being inclined, to present hollows adapted to receive said ball prior to its projecting by the projecting element, said projecting elements having their upper surfaces'shaped'to provide receiving portions adapted to receive the ball and from which the ball will be projected.- for dropping through the corresponding has et, a net work inclosing the active portions of said projecting elements and said baskets, means.

for returning said projecting elements to their normal positions after operation, cushioning strips carried by said supporting means and adapted to cushion the return movement of said projecting elements.

17. In a game, the combination of a supporting base, a plurality of projecting elements plvotally supported by said base andarranged in sets, the projecting elements of said sets being arranged alternately, the

upper surfaces of said projecting elements being inclinedtransversely and having their lowermost portions facing a companion projecting element of the other set, means for returning the projecting elements to their normal positions after operation, and cushioning means for cushioning the return movement of said projecting elements.

18. In a game, the combination, of a plurality of pivotally supported projecting elements arranged in sets, the projecting elements of one set adapted to project an article in a direction opposite to its'projection by the other set, the projecting elements of said sets being arranged alternately, means for returning the projecting elements to their normal positions after operatiorn'and cushioning means for cushioning the return movement of the proj ecting elements to their .normal positions.

FRED EDWARD BIERTUEMPFEL. 

